Hello, and welcome! This is 15 Words or Less Poems, a low-pressure way to wake up your poetry brain (guidelines here), and I’m very glad you’re here.
Last week’s image was a close-up of the pompoms I use whenever we watch Dolphins games:>) This week, I give you:
This image makes me think of several things:
- the natural hot baths we hoped to find (but didn’t) in Icelan
- a scary jack-o-lantern with flames shooting out of its eyes and mouth
- a galaxy
And here’s my first draft. I don’t spend long on these poems, but this one is literally a first first draft. These are the words that poured out on screen, with no changes.
It’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count.)
63 Responses
Good morning poets. I do love a pretty candle. Laura, I love the juxtaposition of a galaxy and tiny raspberry seed. That’s beautiful.
My mood is impacted by a loss of a friend from high school. The ripples of grief between those of us that knew her have hit me this week. Winter doesn’t help.
landscape stark
feeling our way
in hope we pray
flickering candles
seeking stars.
xxx sorry about you los of your friend your poem is a beautiful tribute to them
Linda so sorry about the loss of your friend. Your poem expresses your emotions beautifully.
I am sorry for your loss. Your poem is a beautiful tribute to your friend.
Linda, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss.
ooops! The first line got cut off in the poem above. Sorry about that.
Winter dark
landscape stark
feeling our way
in hope we pray
flickering candles
seeking stars.
Sorry for your loss, Linda. Poetry heals.
Nature is mourning with you. I hope your memories of good times with her bring sunshine.
Out of grief and loss comes beauty in the form of poetry here, Linda. I’m so sorry for your loss. We were at a funeral last night, and I am drained but also heartened by the show of love for both Dave, who died, and for his family left behind. I think I might send your poem to his wife, if it’s all right with you. I would guess it reflects her own feelings right now…
Beautiful, Linda.
So sorry for you loss, Linda–I hope you share your poem with your friend’s family. It’s lovely. And Laura, sorry too to hear of your friend’s death. Yes, grief can bring out warmth and love. Sending some to both of you.
A lovely light you’ve created to remember your friend by, so sorry Linda!
Candles
When one burns low
others
Shine
all the brighter
I love the simplicity of this, Amelia. Makes me feel warm:>)
So true Amelia. Support systems are necessities. When one is down, hopefully there those who can/will lift.
This is just lovely.
I love the feeling that when our flames get low, there will be others there to help!
I know that to be true.…but you make it even more so.
I love the first 2 lines and the raspberry seeds image
poem dye Jessica Bigi
Family Traditions
Lilly pads of light
igniting uniting
enriching memories
of our lives
circling heart-beets
connecting
Love “lily pads of light”!
Thank you
Thanks, Jessica. Oh, this is beautiful. Even though you never say water, it gives me the clear image of little votive candles on lilypads floating on a lake at night, all touching each other and setting the night aflame with love and support.
Lovely Jessica.
These do look like the candles they set afloat. Very pretty image and feeling, Jessica.
Good morning, Laura. I love the comparison in your poem- stars as raspberry seeds in eternity. Lovely!
MY BURNING DESIRE
Keep my eyes open.
Use my mouth less-
Justify using it
when I can bless.
Oh, Cindy, this one’s a keeper. Sadly, the people writing it or recognizing its value aren’t the ones who need it most. Ahem. But, still, a good reminder for me:>)
Thanks Cindy, I need to become a better listener. The old adage “open mouth, insert foot” still holds true today.
And yes, that is why we were given both two eyes and two ears and only one mouth… I shall try to remember this more often!
Well said, and in a catchy rhyme no less. Too often I wish there was a “delete key” for words.
I see a face. And Linda’s grief reminds me how we miss the faces of the ones we loved.
I seek your face
in the clouds,
the steam of coffee,
a glowing candle.
Yes! At a funeral I was at last night, there were hundreds of photos of Dave and his family. There’s such a deep need to see the ones we love. It’s one reason skyping with Maddie is so much better than just phone calls!
Very reflective on how we see the people we miss the most.
I remember seeking that face that would no longer be here. With time, I seek it less, but there are still times at a grocery store when I see someone from behind and my heart leaps in recognition, until they turn around.
Linda, may your grief be soon lessened with warm memories and peace. In the bottom circle of today’s photo I see a lone astronaut in space boots, carrying a light and his/her head illuminated by another star/moon/sun.
NASA
Forever hopeful
that man will find
sustainability
for all mankind.
Love the picture your mind saw. And how your poem and many others deal with seeking something. Science and love and both connected by that search, I think.
Went back to the photo to meet your astronaut. Very nice connection, and more seeking. What is there about a candle that can bring about so much yearning, seeking and introspection, do you suppose??
Thank you Donna. For me it’s the flame itself that promotes introspection. The same feelings surface while sitting in front of a fireplace or even at a cookout over open flames.
I like the hope in your poem.
To Linda’s high school friend, Laura’s friend, Dave, and her beloved Captain Jack, who inspired many 15 WOL poems:
Loss
With only memories aglow,
the fire of their lives
still melts our hearts.
Wow! Beautiful Lauren.
This is a lovely tribute.
“still melts our hearts” — beautiful.
The mood feels rather somber, and I am sorry for everyone who is experiencing loss here today. Hopefully my poem will make you laugh because when I looked at those candles I saw the finger holes of a bowling ball. I know I’m a bit sleep deprived today. Anyway it got me thinking about how serious bowlers have weird superstitions.
Bowlers Superstition
Fill each hole,
spark the flame.
Bowl a strike;
win the game!
Extremely clever! Perfect! We can always use a smile.
After I read this, I went back to “see” the bowling ball and there it was! Ha! Yes, to the bowlers’ quirks! Seems every sport has them.
From the queen of gutter balls, thanks for the smile.
i saw a bowling ball too! Thanks for the smile.
It looked like a ghost face to me…and the dark around it then became the sky, and there are what could be stars there…then the face became an owl… then…
Waning Hunger
Owl’s night
Eyes wax bright
In shadowed flight;
Stars alight
Invite
A bite
Of mouse!
by Donna JT Smith
Read everyone else’s postings after I’d thought mine through. It seems there have been lots of losses to work through, and it is nice that we have this thing called poetry to help.
Love this, Donna! The ending speeds us along like the owl’s strike.
I love your short lines and clipped rhyme that give speed to the owl. The poor mouse.
I also saw a face in these lights. We often play a game of spotting faces on a road trip (which google tells me is called pareidolia, a word I wish I could remember!)
Hidden Faces
Frowning trucklights,
Smiling rocks.
Winking windows,
Flames in shock.
From clouds to bridges,
faces gawk.
What a creative, fun game! Could have used that distraction on some of our family trips. I shall have to start this with my granddaughter now as we go back and forth to preschool.
What a great new word! I believe I’ve always been a pareidoliac.… (I wonder if that is a word, too!)
Great idea I’m going to do this with the kids on our next road trip.
you made me “ha” out loud. Thanks for that. I do love gawk at the end. Great punchline.
I like your rhyme, ending on gawk. What a great ending word.
I like your relationship Laura between the “galaxy of stars,” and the “seas of infinity” they share an unending time.
I saw a face too. Thanks Buffy for this new word pareidolia–I see many faces in trees.
Effervescent
emerald–
Aaaaaahhhhh,
don’t eat me
alive!
I really liked the greens and purples in the image, although the poem went in a different direction. I think I was thinking “candle in the dark” and then jumped to echos.
Memories whisper
Like echos in the dark
Remember when…
Remember when…
Remember when…
As always, thanks for posting these weekly poetry prompts!
Love this!
ooooh, that triple repetition is perfect
Eternal Flame
Eternal flames
Captured in a sea
of boundless
imperfections
stories never told
and endless sorrow
Anne McKenna
So beautiful and melancholy…
Thank you that means so much I have not tried one in a long time